Ohio’s top prospect in the 2026 recruiting class has opted to leave the state for college.
Five-star cornerback Elbert Hill announced his commitment to USC on Friday, a decision that had appeared likely for several months.
Although Hill had been a regular presence in Columbus earlier in his recruitment, he did not visit Ohio State this spring. Instead, he made multiple visits to USC. While he had scheduled an official visit to OSU for this summer, it’s uncertain whether that will still happen following his pledge to the Trojans.
BREAKING: Top 2026 CB Elbert Hill has committed to USC, he confirmed to @on3recruits.
The 5-foot-10, 185-pound corner from Akron, Ohio, chose the Trojans over Ohio State, Oregon, and Alabama.
Ranked as the No. 1 player in Ohio and No. 4 cornerback nationally by On3, Hill said, “I’m home, Fight On.”
Per 247Sports’ composite rankings, Hill is listed as the No. 40 overall player and the No. 3 cornerback in the 2026 class.
Hill follows a recent trend of top Ohio defensive backs leaving the state, as both Trey McNutt and Dorian Brew signed with Oregon in the 2025 class.
With Hill no longer in their plans, Ohio State and position coach Tim Walton are expected to shift focus within the 2026 class. Jordan Thomas, who visited OSU twice this spring, now appears to be the top target to pair with current cornerback commit Jakob Weatherspoon.